What a pathetic article and what a narrow focus. I ride a 500watt electric MTB every day. Have done so for over three years. I ditched my late model Alfa and use the bike for everything including shopping and going to work. I take it everywhere as I work in most capital cities in Australia and overseas even as far as Azerbaijan!. So I know a bit about biking around the world

I was hit at 80kph at 16yo as a pedestrian by a drunk driver in the '70's. RESULT? Major injuries, long term psychological damage. I was not at fault. At 42yo I was T-boned on my motorbike, RESULT? Major spinal injuries, financial loss and severe trauma. Again. Not at fault.

However, I feel safer on my e-bike than I ever did as a pedestrian or motorbike rider because I DON'T adhere completely to ALL road rules, no matter what country or state (and they change drastically around the country). I do what is safe for me and pedestrians I don't give a rats about what car drivers think or don't think (which is 99% of the time).

Cars drivers don't care less about motorbike riders or push bike riders 'Sorry didn't see ya!" mentality is the norm. But some cities do seem to notice push bike riders better than others especially in Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin, Brissy is getting there. (Take your life into your own hands in Sydney!). Pedestrians are at the whim of each car drivers ability to notice them and are somewhat protected by lights and crossings but this is no guarantee (my first accident case in point).

Coming from Holland where there are more bikes than cars its the norm for bikes to have way over cars..its the law! Separate, barriered bike lanes are the norm as are 'go first' lights giving bikes right of way over cars.

FACT: There are more e-bikes being built in the world than cars. EVERY major car manufacturer is displaying their e-bike products at trade shows hoping to gauge appetite..and its huge. One of the greatest revolutions in history is on our doorsteps and unless governments build infrastructure and change road laws AGAINST cars and in favour of bikes the inevitable conflicts will arise.

I can tell that 90% of the contributors on this forum rarely if ever ride a bike and feel they have a way of venting their jealousy of bike riders. When I was on a motorbike mothers with children in the cars would try and bump me off the bike because they didn't like the idea of me overtaking them! The law needs to change to make car drivers responsible for running down cyclists. A few years ago the law changed. Knocking down a motorbike rider, a pedestrian or a cyclist is now a major offence with a mandatory six months jail term for neg driving causing GBH (NSW). THAT will/.might change the attitude of the arrogant car driver. However, Aust Govt's typical response is to apply draconian penal colony mentality and start handing out fines to the victims (Bike riders!).

"If truck drivers drove like car drivers we'd all be dead!"

As a pushbike rider there is absolutely no evidence or reason to adhere to any draconian laws intentioned for dangerous motor vehicles which are simply large lethal weapons.

You have as much chance of being killed by a bike as you do a soccer ball. Bike riders need to look out for themselves. Waiting around at lights for a semi-conscious car driver to run you over and then hear in your ear while you're on the ground "Sorry mate I didn't see ya"..aaah no thanks..the answer to survival as a push bike rider on the road is 'keep it moving!'. Every car driver is a potential nut case and can and in some cases; willfully try and run you off the road or simply not give way because 'they are bigger than you' or "it's your own fault if you get hit. You shouldn't be on that thing!.

As a bike rider running a Red light, when all lanes are stopped and you are moving with pedestrians (all capital cities in Australia), is the safest way to cross an intersection. It's even safer than going WITH the green light as you have cars waay too close to you who feel that you are in THEIR lane when you do.

I always either dismount, or crawl alongside pedestrians when crossing one of these lights so as to get ahead of the stationary cars behind me and not to frighten pedestrians. Turning left at a red light is a given. Take superb care, do it when there's NO traffic AT ALL! and its safe. Look over your right shoulder TWICE or slow right down (if you're a novice) but don't sit there like a sitting duck waiting to be hit!